Faulty bathroom floor

collins74

Hi all

I have a small compact bathroom.

 In late 2017, I used a local company to replace the bathroom and the cost was £10,500, so not cheap. The company like many others subbed the work out to contractors who stopped working for them about three months after our bathroom was finished.  These fitters are long gone.

In the first year we noticed little bits of grout coming up from the floor.  At this point we should have raised the issue but didn’t.  Fast forward to about a year ago two cracks have developed in two tiles.  We have been in lengthy dialogue with the company who at first said they would repair the floor.  They thought replacing the two tiles would be it.  However several fitters have confirmed the whole floor needs replacing.  The cost of the labour is £840.

The company says they will pay for replacement tiles but not the labour.  I have argued the case stating the floor was not fitted properly and should not be in the state it is after just over four years.  They are refusing to budge despite me mentioning Trading Standards and legal action.  They said the guarantee is for a year and have left the ball in my court.

It feels wrong to me to have to fork out nearly £1k for a new floor as the original work was defective in my view. I accept I am out of the guarantee period and all efforts to get the company to stand the costs have proved fruitless.  I offered to pay £200 of the labour but again they refused this. 

I would like to take the matter further through small claims or another legal recourse.  However, I’ve never done this before and I wondering what are my options or if indeed it’s worth it.

Appreciate views on the following:

1.  Am I being unreasonable expecting the company to stand the cost of the whole replacement including labour?
2.  If I choose to pursue this matter what are my options trying to obtain an order to get company to pay to repair the floor.

Any help appreciated.
Thanks

koalakoala

After nearly five years I would think your chances are very slim. I would probably accept the offer to pay for new tiles

benson1980

What is the reason for the failure of the tiles? There must have been some issue with the subfloor and movement, so how did they prep it? What have the other tilers said and what is the £840 labour cost for- to simply remove what is there and replace, or do some extra prep work before tiling and have they identified any faults with the original installation?

diystarter7

Hello OP

We had our kitchen done some years ago.

We bouth glass black tiles. The builders did an A1 job. A few weeks later we noted a few cracks on some of the wall tiles and a few more  we had spare tiles they re-did for free. Then more tiles and more tiles. Builders blamed the tiles and tiles people blamed the builders.

About 8/9 months in we bout replacement tiles nothing like what we had but just black oblong tiles and the builders took down and refitted free of charge and used their own grouting etc and work-top covers etc.

Are the tiles cracking as floor is uneven or are they stretched  and hairline cracks - either way, I'd  go along with what is being offered to save the stress etc and get it over and done with.

Good luck

collins74

Thanks everyone for the responses.

A different tiler said the floor was not prepared enough as the boards in our house are uneven so required more prep than normal. He didn’t fancy taking the job on as we have underfloor heating to o compound matters.
 

The £840 includes removing the sink and a unit as it’s a small bathroom,  prepping and laying it again.  The fitter who has quoted is experienced and I believe he will do a good job. 

benson1980

collins74 said:

Thanks everyone for the responses.

A different tiler said the floor was not prepared enough as the boards in our house are uneven so required more prep than normal. He didn’t fancy taking the job on as we have underfloor heating to o compound matters.
 

The £840 includes removing the sink and a unit as it’s a small bathroom,  prepping and laying it again.  The fitter who has quoted is experienced and I believe he will do a good job. 

Did they tile directly onto the floorboards??

andyhop

I doubt you’ll save the UFH when lifting the tiles . Cement based adhesive should have been used and you’ll need to go right back to the subfloor and start again . Cement board bonded to subfloor and screwed or 15mm  minimum thickness plywood 

collins74

Thanks again for the comments.

From what I recall they used boards at the time - they said they were boards can take moisture to an extent.  I’m not DIY minded so I honestly can’t remember what they used.

From what has been said here it appears the offer of the tiles is reasonable.  Worried the UFH damage will mean this needs replacing too and that will add to the cost. 

Mistral001

If it is an old house often the floor joists are quite small and will flex too much to carry a brittle floor covering.  If that is the problem, you might get the same cracking whenever you get the tiles replaced.